We were lucky to catch up with Camille Soltani Icely recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Camille, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I started creating as a young child. I was always found with a paintbrush or crayon in my hand. In Kindergarden, my teacher took me out of class to show my work to the art teacher for the higher elementary grades 1-5. The art teachers encouragement of my talent and work was the first time I realized I really had a talent in art. In 4th grade I was accepted into Rollings School of the Arts, and in 8th grade I won Artist of the Year for the whole school. I was honestly shocked by this, and it was another moment where I realized I didn’t give myself enough credit for my art talent.

I went through a lot of hard times at home from age 10-18, and ended up traveling a lot to both find myself, and to somewhat runaway from issues I didn’t want to face at home. In my travels I did a lot of volunteer work, and stayed mostly in India, and in England. But even in this time, which was most of my 20’s, I never stopped painting and selling my art on the side.

My home life is a big part of my story, because like everyone we all face traumatic events in our lives. But art and poetry has been a very grounding process to me, and my creative time centers me in my faith and spirituality; which always was medicine to my soul. This is why you see a lot of inspirational themes reflected in my work. It’s been inner healing for myself, and I share my story and my art with the world in hopes that it will bring them some of the love and light that my creative process does for myself.

I think my biggest obstacles to overcome has been fear of man, meaning what others think of my work, or in sharing what I’ve been through as an artist. However, these obstacles have become the very thing that have helped me in my journey as I learn to shed this fear layer by layer, and find the freedom to be myself.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My full name is Sarah Camille Soltani Icely, but I go by Camille. My art business is Sarah Camille Art. I like to tell people my story, with a story…

Sarah is a girl who grew up in the woods, catching bugs and playing outdoors. She had a deep love for animals and discovering as much as she could about this beautiful world God created. She was a dreamer; a dreamer who believed anything was possible. She loved princess movies and believed in fairy tales. She knew she could be whatever she wanted to be, because she was complete in who she was.

When Sarah was 10, a great tragedy occurred in her life, and her world was shaken. This season lasted for several years, and it was around this time Sarah decided she didn’t want to be Sarah anymore. She changed her name and ran away from everything that reminded her of who she once was.

When Sarah was in her 20’s she became exhausted from constantly running, and when she slowed down, love caught up with her. Layer by layer love healed her, restored her, and reminded her who she is… the very identity she had been running from…

A daughter.

Yet she discovered she wasn’t just any daughter, but a daughter of God- the very spirit of Love himself. She found this love in Christ, and in Him, her connection to God, the earth, and finally- her connection back to herself. She found Sarah again, and in finding Sarah she began to truly heal. Although she was known by a new name, Camille, Sarah was still very much alive within her.

This is my story, and why I sign my art ‘Sarah Camille’ even though I go by Camille. This is also why my greatest hope in all I paint, create, and write is for each person, no matter who they are or what they believe, to feel seen, and known, and loved- because you are loved more than you know.

My art has now grown to be more than just paintings and poetry, as I also sell jewelry inspired by my paintings, and vegan leather wallets and purses with my artwork on them. I sell a lot online, but also work as a local artist in our local Public Works Art Center, with a group called the Carnes Crossroads Artist Cooprative. You can find my work on my website, www.SarahCamilleArt.com

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding thing is being able to meet my buyers and collectors, especially ones who really receive from a work of art. Countless times I have seen my art move people to tears, and even though my goal isn’t to make people cry- those moments stay with me because I see them truly receive love from something I’ve created. These are my favorite moments in my career as an artist.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

I honestly don’t know anything about NFTs, except I get a lot of spam messages of ‘people’ on Instagram trying to buy my art and an NFT. This had made me leery of the whole thing.     

Contact Info:

• Website: www.SarahCamilleArt.com
• Instagram: @SarahCamilleArt
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/sarahcamilleart
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahCamilleArt